In crazy vs. fire, the ant with the detox dance wins

Defense technique helps recent invader stomp out fire ants

CHEMICAL ANT FIGHT The red imported fire ant (left) dabs droplets of potent venom from its rear onto enemies, but its opponent this time, a tawny crazy ant (right), detoxifies the venom with an acid rubdown.

When dabbed with venom from fire ants, crazy ants of the species Nylanderia fulva curl their hind ends up between their legs and secrete droplets of formic acid, says ecologist Edward LeBrun of the University of Texas at Austin. The ants then give themselves vigorous rubdowns, smearing the acid on their bodies, LeBrun and his colleagues report February 13 in Science. Most survive the attack.

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